Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Mother's Day is around the corner, and I'd like to introduce you to two newly published books about adoption that celebrate both birth mothers and adoptive mothers. The first one is a cozy picture book for children; the second one is a book for adults written by an adoptive mother of two Ethiopian girls.

Wonderful You: An Adoption Story[Random House Books for Young Readers]is a magical story with a happy ending. The fairy-tale-cuddle-factor of this book is evoked by the lyrical story telling of author Lauren McLaughlin and the dreamy, bright watercolor illustrations of artist Meilo So.

Lauren says in a note at the beginning of the book "I'll never forget the first time I saw my adoptive daughter. She was perfectly formed and full of life. When I extended my little finger toward her, she gripped it. That was it. I was hers forever. Since then our life together has been a wonderful adventure. I wanted to celebrate this adventure, and the birth mother who made it all possible..."

The fairytale begins,

In a faraway land lived a lady in blue

with a babe in her tummy named Wonderful You.

The Lady in Blue finds parents for her baby after searching high and low. They have waited so long and promise to love the child...

We will hug her and kiss her and tickle her too.

Forever and always, our Wonderful You.

In the rest of the story we read about the magic of childhood that the new family of three experiences together: adventures like birthdays, schools day, the zoo, snow days, and the seashore.

Although the experiences of adoption are as varied as families, this book would make a lovely gift for anyone who has been part of an adoption journey - a birth mother, an adoptive mother and father, or an adopted child.

My second book recommendation is from Ancient Faith Publishing. It gives us a different perspective of the adoption journey: one of international adoption. The honesty which Ashley Lackovich-Van Gorp shares with us in her inspiring personal story, Children of My Heart: Finding Christ through Adoption, will be appreciated by anyone who has considered adoption.

Her purposeful story recounts not only the ultimate joy of seeing her children-to-be for the first time, but the doubts, fears, and challenges that parents face during an international adoption process. Ashley also reveals insight into the real pain and adjustment that her adopted children experienced in going home with a Mommy and Daddy after spending years in the orphanage that was their haven and home.

From the first chapter, I was completely drawn into Ashley's story. As a young professional working in Jerusalem with her husband and experiencing a bit of a faith crisis, she struggled to embrace and live out her Serbian Orthodox faith with all her heart.

She never dreamed her search for an intimate relationship with Christ would lead her to a nuns' Monastery school for orphaned girls and then ultimately to Ethiopia and into the hearts and lives of two precious little orphan girls.

Adoption is definitely at the center of Ashley's story, but this is also a book about faith. It's about those we may not think about often: Palestinian Orthodox Christians living in the Holy Land, and about the many Ethiopians who live everyday in poverty. A inspiring read for all! You can listen to Ashley talk about her book here.

Ashley Lackovich-Van Gorp is an international consultant for Girl Child Protection and Adaptive Behavior Change. She works for international humanitarian and development organizations on issues pertaining to adolescent girls and women. She specializes in prevention of harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, and trafficking. She currently resides in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with her husband, daughters, and cat. She attends St. Frumentius Greek Orthodox Church.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

- 1John 3:1-2

[Disclosure note: Both books above were sent to me as review copies by the publishers.]

Friday, March 31, 2017

Boo and Baa in Windy Weather by Scandinavian author and illustrator (a husband/wife team), Lena and Olof Landström, was the perfect read for my grandsons in New York during the snowy, windy winter days that were brought on by Storm Stella a couple of weeks ago. After reading the story, the boys had so much fun making little masterpieces inspired by the book. They used Q-tips, glue, construction paper, and my daughter's cut out renditions of Boo and Baa for their cute craft project!

Boo and Baa in Windy Weather follows the misadventures of Boo and Baa as they try to get home with their groceries during a snowstorm. Their trip starts off well enough (they are sledding downhill), but the trek back home is "slow as a snail" as they push their sled uphill.

They pull their caps down so no snow will get in their eyes. (My older grandson did the same when he went out to play - maybe he was inspired by Boo and Baa!)

Things really become difficult for Boo and Baa when their cabbage suddenly rolls off their sled. Preschoolers will enjoy the antics and humor of Boo and Baa, as well as the problem solving at the end of the story.

Growing up, I always loved snow days! They're such a perfect time for catching up on reading.

But with April around the corner, hopefully much of the northern and eastern U.S. can say "goodbye" to snow. I'm sure we'll still have wind - time to break out the kites!

I always think of Winnie-the-Pooh when the wind kicks up! What books do you like for Blustery Days? Here are a couple I can think of...

Monday, March 20, 2017

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matt 9:14

More often then not, we adults can learn important things from young children. Jane G. Meyer's newest picture book The Suitcase has us doing just that! This sweet story celebrates a young child's enthusiasm to put into practice the words of Christ: to feed and clothe the poor; help the needy; and love one's neighbor.

Thomas feels safe in his ordered life on his family's farm. He happily spins in circles for hours while reciting the alphabet, chats with his goat each morning, and then lines up his whole collection of blocks - starting from his upstairs bedroom and ending down in his backyard.

But one Sunday, after coming home from church, Thomas does something unexpected. To the surprise of his questioning family, he shows up at the dinner table with...a suitcase!

When his mother asks him where he's going, he replies, "To the Kingdom of Heaven." As he begins to show his family the contents of his suitcase, they (and we, the readers) are touched by what he's packed, and how he's literally taken to heart the messages of Jesus' parables.

If you're a parent, you have undoubtedly observed that for young children (and especially those on the autism spectrum), abstract ideas can be difficult, so things they hear are often interpreted in a very literal, concrete way.

But shouldn't we all be more like children? Thomas has packed food and clothing for the poor, a platter to serve them, some coins, a mustard seed, and a pearl, among other things.

And thank goodness no one laughs at him when he asks, "So, can I go now?" His father gently explains that the Kingdom of God is right here, and that Thomas - because of his giving heart - has already gone through its gate and is on the path.

The story ends with Thomas's family joining him on his journey, as they share the Kingdom with others by serving a meal to the homeless. May we all be inspired to "pack our bags" with good things for God's Kingdom.

Nor will they say, "Look, here it is!" or "There!" For indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst. - Luke 17:21

Chiara Pasqualotto's warm and soothing watercolor illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to Jane's sweet storytelling.
Published by Paraclete Press,The Suitcase is available there, and on Amazon.
Click here for Jane's awesome Activity Guide to the book. NOTE: I received an advanced copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Are you going to watch To Walk Invisible: The Brontës on PBS Sunday night, March 26? It follows the Brontë sisters in the eventful three-year period that saw them rise from ordinary, unmarried women, taking care of the household and their widowed father, to the secret authors of the world’s most sensational literature.

The only existing portrait of The Brontë Sisters, this Portrait (1834) was painted by their brother, Branwell Brontë. (The ghostly figure that was once covered by a pillar is Branwell.)

“This portrait has really influenced people’s image of the Brontës because it’s the only surviving image of them. They look so somber and so depressed... yet it’s worth remembering that this painting is not a depiction of novelists at the height of their power, but a brother’s portrait of his teenage sisters. They’re ten years away from publishing their novels...As wonderful and haunting as this painting is, it’s skewed our perception.” -Christine Nelson, curator of The Morgan Library's Charlotte Bronte, an Independent WillAfter seeing the Charlotte Brontë exhibit with my daughter at the Morgan Library in New York this past December, I'm especially interested in the Masterpiece special tomorrow! (I'm sorry I'm so late blogging about this amazing exhibit - it left The Morgan in January.) You can read in fascinating detail about The Morgan's Charlotte Brontë, An Independent Willexhibit here and watch a video about it here.

The exhibit included a Frontpiece (with an engraved view of Haworth parsonage and churchyard) to The Life of Charlotte Brontë by Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865) - which I really want to read now.

Curator Christine Nelson gathered interesting personal effects and manuscripts associated Charlotte Brontë for the Morgan's exhibit—from brother Branwell Brontë’s portrait of his famous sisters to miniature books, fair copies of novels, letters, and watercolor paintings of the author and her sisters. I've shared some of my photos here on my blog for you...

Entering the exhibit, the first thing I saw was one of Charlotte Brontë's few surviving garments. She was a tiny woman! Seeing her dress and shoes brought tears to my eyes!

I also shed a tear seeing her portable writing box and a first edition of Jane Eyre.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Ancient Faith Publishing has just released a beautiful new picture book, In The Candle's Glow, by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson, illustrated by Amandine Wanert. I can guarantee it will warm your heart...

Felicia will light her candle, pray, and watch as a breeze carries the wisp of smoke from her candle flame up to heaven along with her prayers. But where did the candle come from? The story begins with a breeze, some bees, and a beekeeper (who happens to be a singing nun!)

While preparing for this post, I began thinking about all the symbolism associated with lighted candles and why in the Orthodox Church our candles are made from pure beeswax. I came across from very enlightening information that I'd like to share with you.

Blessed Simeon of Thessalonica (15th century), a commentator on the Liturgy, wrote about six things that candles symbolize for us...
1. The pure wax (bees wax) of a candle reminds us that our hearts should be pure.

2. The softness and pliability of wax speaks of our readiness to obey God.

3. We are reminded of the sweet aroma of God's Divine Grace in our souls because the wax comes from fragrant flowers.

4. The burning of the candle as it mixes with and feeds the flame represents man’s deification, his becoming a new creature through the fire of God’s love.

5. As the candle lights the darkness, so must the Light of Christ shine before men in our hearts.

6. Lastly, it symbolizes the love and peace that should characterize every Christian, because the wax that burns down when it illuminates, is like our love for our fellow man; but it also comforts man with its light in the darkness.

Today I'd like to dedicate my post to two gentle men whose lives glowed like bright candles, with the Light and Love of Christ for those around them. Like wisps of smoke that rise after a candle is blown out, they left us this month (which ironically began with Candlemas on the 2nd) to move heavenward.

During an Orthodox funeral service, as well as at memorial services, the faithful stand with lit candles as a sign that the deceased's soul has left this world and entered the Kingdom of Heaven and the Unwaning Light of God.

Ray was 93 years young and lived a long life, taking tender loving care of his wife for many years before she died. This precious man missed her dearly ever since, and finally went to join her a couple of weeks ago. I enjoyed countless visits with both him and his wife. He was our "bell-ringer" at church - letting us know each Sunday when our Priest was ready to give the blessing for our food at coffee hour!

I was not able to attend Ray's funeral, because the day before it I got the devastating news of a second death...

Kevin (who happens to be the brother-in-law of my sister) was 33 years too young to die, but left this earth last week after a brave fight with cancer. He and his wife Angel, in true warrior fashion, started "Packed Kits" after his wife's sister sent him an amazing care package to help get him through his hospital stays. The kits are based on her original care package and contain everything a chemo patient could need during treatment. Please visit their website, and consider "Giving Pack" to help fight cancer!

Monday, January 30, 2017

Women. Marching. There has been a lot going on in the past couple of weeks.About being "pro-woman". About being "pro-choice". About being "pro-life".Last night, the Orthodox world lost a very wise and loving woman who had a lot to say to women. She lectured tenderly, yet boldly, about motherhood and the participation all women have in creation... "Carriers of life" she'd say.March daily. "An upward ascent towards the Kingdom of God."With your families and friends.While finding joy, gratitude, and freedom in your vocation as Women of God.

Juliana Schmemann, wife of the late Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann (the prominent Orthodox theologian and past dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary), passed away peacefully last night at the age of 93.I find it unspeakably touching that she died in her sleep the evening before her wedding anniversary. Matushka Juliana was a working mother of three, grandmother of nine, great grandmother of 22, great-great grandmother of four, a lifelong educator in New York girls’ schools, and former headmistress of the Spence School.Mat. Juliana and her husband had been dear friends of my parents. In the 1990's, I had the honor of hearing the ever-energetic Matushka speak to their parish women.At the time, I was homeschooling our three children and experiencing the daily challenges that come not only with motherhood and the responsibility of educating my own children, but also with fatigue from various health issues.Her words of encouragement gave me much hope, as I resolved to not "just cope", but to be with God, having gratitude and finding joy in my everyday living, throughout all the seasons of life. If you never had the chance to hear Mat. Juliana give a lecture, I have some good things linked below - an interview and lecture, as well as two books authored by her. My mother and my daughter were able to visit dear Mat. Juliana this past December. She was as always, joyful and attentive. They spent the morning remembering her husband, as well as my dad and my mother-in-law: those gone before.

I know she encouraged my mom and my daughter to keep marching. Towards the Kingdom! May her memory be eternal.

InterviewMatushka Juliana was interviewed in 1998 by her daughter for The St. Nina Quarterly. The article, "Joy, Gratitude, and Freedom" is still pertinent for what only seems today to be an even more challenging time for Christian women...M.T.: Since the death of Fr. Alexander Schmemann, you have traveled extensively, addressing the concerns of Orthodox Christian women in this troubled secular world. What concerns have you encountered most often, and how did you attempt to address these concerns? J.S.: Most of the time women wanted to know what should be their role in the Church. That question troubled me, since I think that playing a role is not a Christian way of looking at one's life. Did Mary think of her "role," her "rights," her "privileges"? Women are often quite confused about the way the Church views them. In fact, in the Church's tradition, beginning with the Virgin Mary, women have a unique and most beautiful place. There are the Myrrhbearers with their total dedication, love, and faithfulness; Martha and Mary who knew the one thing needed and chose it; the Samaritan woman who experienced the joy of faith at her encounter with Jesus. The Church is us - now. The ethos of the world changes, evolves, so do ways of dressing, appearances, but the total gift of self by women, as well as by men, is where it starts. Dedicating one's talents and faithful service to the Lord are the responsibility of all. Whatever the needs of the Church are, or the demands of the job, or of the family, or of the parish, that is where the woman (as well as the man!) serves, in whatever capacity that she is called to serve. Since ordination [to the priesthood] is not an option, there are so many other ways to use one's talents, not by playing a role, but by being a role model, by giving oneself. What should be nurtured is the unique gift of womanhood, of a woman who follows Mary's living example. [source]Booksby Mat. Juliana SchmemannMy Journey with Father Alexander

LectureBelow I've linked a wonderful talk, "On Motherhood" that Mat. Juliana gave in May 2014. She thoughtfully notes that motherhood is "not only a biological fact of life. It's a talent. In the Gospel sense of the word...to be given back to the creator." Motherhood is life giving - to an infant, godchild, friend...we are called to "exude life...an upward ascent to the Kingdom. The only goal...it's a continuous mission. A vocation of women."

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About Me

I've been married to my wonderful husband for 33 years. We have 3 grown children - who remember fondly our Family Read Aloud Time. Recently we've added two little grandsons to our family, who already love books. I can usually be found exploring libraries (the big, old ones are my favorites!)

30 "DO'S" TO REMEMBER WHEN READING ALOUD, BY JIM TRELEASE

Click on the image above (from MIMI, by Carol Baicker-McKee) to read my post "Feeling Lost at the Local Library". At the end of the post, click on the link to download "30 DO'S" and some other helpful brochures by author Jim Trelease, who started me on the wonderful journey of reading aloud to my kids!

JESSIE WILCOX SMITH (click image for my post)

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MY FAVORITE C.S. LEWIS QUOTES...

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."

"We can strip the knight of his armor, to reveal that he looks exactly like us, or we can try on the armor ourselves to experience how it feels. Fiction provides the ideal opportunity to try on the armor."

"A book worth reading only in childhood is not worth reading even then." C.S. Lewis